GOP memo drops, voters on left and right react

AP

After President Donald Trump declassified the memo, the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee released it based on classified information that alleges the FBI abused U.S. government surveillance powers in its investigation into Russian election interference.

After President Donald Trump declassified the memo, the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee released it based on classified information that alleges the FBI abused U.S. government surveillance powers in its investigation into Russian election interference. (AP)

Confidence in Congress was already at an all time low when Nunes, possibly with the help of Donald Trump, concocted the classified document scheme to smear the reputation of the FBI. The constant harassment of the Justice Department by various Republicans, especially those on the House Intelligence committee, should be viewed as obstruction of justice.

As is obvious to everyone, the goal is to smear the reputation particularly of Rod Rosenstein, which would give Donald Trump a pretext for firing him.

This would add another instance of obstruction of justice by Trump and result in a constitutional crisis. It is by no means certain that this Republican party would consider impeachment proceedings. If not, what would be the consequences? I am afraid the turmoil of 1968 would pale in comparison.

It is time for the gutless Republicans in Congress to do the right thing for once.

Edward Lusby

Fallbrook

Can our Constitution handle all the divisive chaos pouring out of Washington, D.C.? Is the "classified Nunes memo" a smokescreen for diversion? Will the government shut down again next week and blame the FBI?

We all must ask: Why doesn't the White House and Congress want to find answers to the massive Russian hacking in our 2016 elections?

Most importantly: Allow Robert Mueller's team to complete all its work giving us a clear picture of what happened and what we must do to fix critical issues before our next election.

Fred Peter

Chula Vista

Re “Let’s put this Russia nonsense behind us” (Jan. 31): Indeed demagogues’ use of the House Un-American Activities Committee to track down and persecute Hollywood’s “communists” and others inspired hysteria at the time.

There has been a similar reaction to the continuing developments in the current Russian-meddling investigations. The distinction is that today the Trump White House is the epicenter of un-American activities.

R. Lowell Smith

Mission Heights

Now in my mid-70s, it seems like I've seen this movie before. In the 1950s I listened as U. S. Sen. Joe McCarthy falsely asserted U.S. government employees, motion picture actors and others were Communist sympathizers thereby destroying many good peoples' lives. In the 1970s, I watched as John Dean described President Nixon's suppression of evidence of the burglary of Democrat's offices as producing a "cancer" on the presidency.

In 2018, Republicans in the House of Representatives, despite opposition by Democrats, the FBI and the Department of Justice, seek to publish their memorandum charging the FBI with criminal/treasonous conduct while the special counsel's noose may be tightening on the Trump campaign's possible complicity with, or obstruction of investigation into, Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

It took 241 years for our citizens to build a nation that has been idolized by the rest of the world. Donald Trump has in one short year, turned that wonderful achievement to dust in the eyes of our allies and friends and made us a laughing stock.

It is past time for us to take control, put petty differences aside and bring Trump’s feet to the fire. There is evidence that he is unfit to be president. In his dealings with foreign nations he has endangered us by pulling out of agreements made by previous thoughtful administrations.

He has twittered us into a confrontation with North Korea that could end in the firing of nuclear missiles. This is not acceptable. It is time to act. Time to hold hearings about his conduct and file articles of impeachment to give us a chance to heal the wounds he has inflicted.

Richard Susskind

Coronado

Sandi Gonzales (“Republicans must put nation before politics ” Feb. 1) tells us that we should be "standing up and supporting the FBI," instead of releasing the memo. She then suggests that if Republicans do so, they may be traitors.

Does Sandi understand that the majority of America wants to find out what's been going on and that burying ones head in the sand is not the answer?

Does Sandi realize that the FBI works for us and not for political gain? I sincerely hope so.

Dave Dowler

Valley Center

Most members of the GOP in Congress have aligned themselves with Trump to such a degree that protecting our democracy is of little or no concern to them. Their first priority is keeping their rich donors satisfied, protecting the NRA, and slashing the budgets of agencies that should be protecting us. This administration is so corrupt, it will take many years to undo the damage it has caused.

I urge all who are concerned about our democracy to do anything you can to stop this runaway train.